EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer from El Paso made his appearance in federal court Friday, July 17, after he was indicted and arrested for charges related to alleged false reporting of excessive use of force.

Court documents revealed that while 52-year-old Jesus Espinosa was acting as a federal law enforcement officer in 2021, he allegedly used excessive force to detain an individual, including a chokehold that resulted in bodily injury.

U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas reported that Espinosa claimed the individual he detained was aggressive and non-compliant, which caused an incorrect official report of assault on a federal officer rather than a true report detailing excessive use of force.

Espinosa was indicted Wednesday, July 15, and arrested July 17. He faces charges of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of false statement to a U.S. government agency. On Friday, a federal judge set Espinosa’s signature bond at $10,000.

He was released Monday, July 20, from the El Paso County Detention Center.

Espinosa appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert F. Castaneda of Court One. If convicted, he could face up to a total of 15 years for both charges.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, officials said.

The FBI, along with other agencies, is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Wisniewski is prosecuting the case.

KTSM 9 News reached out to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for comment on Espinosa’s arrest. A CBP spokesperson referred the station to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas for a statement..

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